10 Countries I'd Love To Visit

I've traveled a lot more than I ever thought I would, but there are still places I want to see both here and abroad. Here are the top 10 international places on my list:

1. Australia. Why? I want to take a train trip into the famous Outback, see kangaroos and wallabies hopping around,  visit a sheep station, then see the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef, share a shrimp on the barbie with some friendly Ozzies, and cuddle a koala bear.

2. China. Why? I want to visit the Forbidden City and see its treasures. Then I'll climb the Great Wall (yeah, that'll happen), and take a cruise down the Yangtze River. China is such a vast country, I doubt I'd have any trouble finding places to go and people to see.

 

3. Ireland. Why? I'm half (or thereabouts) Irish, so I'd like to see the home of my ancestors. I want to see the countryside where "The Quiet Man" (John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara) was filmed. I want to look down at the sea from the Cliffs of Moher and visit a castle or two. I want to order Irish stew at an Irish pub and stay at a cozy Irish inn.
 

4. Malta. Why? I read about Malta in Tim Willocks' historical novel "The Religion," then learned more about it in a travel brochure. Located in the Mediterranean just south of Sicily, Malta would be a fascinating place to visit. It has ancient Roman ruins, modern seaside hotels and great weather. This tiny country even has its own language, and we've all heard about the Maltese Falcon, made from "the stuff that dreams are made of."

5. Nepal. Why? Who could resist saying they've been to Kathmandu? I would explore that wonderful city and buy exotic trinkets from its busy markets. I'd take a million pictures of the Himalayas (if they were visible), but it's highly unlikely that I'd try to climb them.



6. New Zealand. Why? Well, not only is this a beautiful place, it's also the location for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which I have seen a gazillion times, home to director Peter Jackson and Weta Workshop, wherein the most creative people on earth created all the fantastic things that brought Middle Earth to life.

7. Prince Edward Island. Why? The picture above is part of the answer; isn't it beautiful? Part of the Canadian Maritimes off the eastern coast of Canada, PEI is the setting for Lucy Maud Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" books, which describe the island in loving detail. I'd love to wander around the lovely place with camera in hand.



8. Spain. Why? I've loved Espana since I was a child. Its stories have always appealed to the romantic in me. I would see the wonders of the Alhambra in Granada, watch flamenco dancers and listen to guitars at sunset. I'd listen to the cheers outside the Plaza del Toros and practice the Castillian Spanish I learned in high school. 



9. Turkey. Why? Because it seems so cool! I would see places like Cappodacia (above) and visit the legendary city of Istanbul (because I can't go back to Constantinople) where I would shop in the Grand Bazaar and see the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace before taking a cruise on the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe and Asia.

10. Wales. Why? Wales has gained considerable notoriety as the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or Will and Kate as the world knows them. But it's also a beautiful place, and pretty much off the beaten path. I'd take a stab at learning Welsh, but I don't think I'd be very successful!

 That's my list. Where in the world would you like to go?